Thiago Motta extends PSG contract

The central midfielder has been pivotal to the French side's successes in recent seasons and he has been rewarded with a one-year extension to his dealParis Saint-Germain centre-midfielder Thiago Motta has extended his contract at the Ligue 1 champions until June 2017. The Italy international, 32, had been linked with a move away from Parc des Princes this summer - specifically to join Atletico Madrid - and he said "PSG know my will is to leave" last month. However, Thiago Motta has played in all three Ligue 1 matches so far this campaign for Laurent Blanc and clearly had a change of heart following continued talks with the reigning French champions. "Paris Saint-Germain are pleased to announce the extension of Thiago Motta contract for another season," les Parisiens said in a statement on Friday. "The Italy international is now attached to the club until June 30, 2017." "This signature comes after several weeks of discussions with the defensive midfielder, which started at the end of last season. Since then, the club has continued to show him the importance that prevailing in the number of triple champions title in France. Thiago Motta was signed in 2012 from Inter and has won three consecutive Ligue 1 titles with the club in addition to reaching the Champions League quarter-finals in each season he has been in the French capital. The Brazilian-born midfield enforcer saw off competition from Yohan Cabaye when the France international was signed 18 months ago and will continue linking up with Blaise Matuidi, Marco Verratti and Adrien Rabiot in the PSG midfield in 2015-16.